Officer Andrew Dodds Arrested for Choking his 11-year-old Daughter

An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department patrolman has been arrested after his 11-year-old daughter accused him of dragging her down a hallway and choking her.

The officer, Andrew M. Dodds, 35, is being held on $100,000 bond, said Lt. Jeff Duhamell, an IMPD spokesman. He has been suspended from the department without pay, and IMPD Chief Michael Spears has recommended he be terminated from the department pending approval from the department's merit board, Duhamell said.

Dodds faces preliminary charges of battery and strangulation.

Dodds, an officer in the city's Northwest District, was sworn in to the department in July 2004. Duhamell said he had received commendation letters for his work from an agent with the U.S. Postal Service in February 2007 and from an IMPD detective in January 2008. He was nominated for Northwest District Officer of the Month in August.

"This is a family incident not involving anything to do with his police work on the street," Duhamell said. "He's a stellar performer out there. Unfortunately he stepped over the line, and now he's going to have to pay the consequences of his actions."

According to a probable cause affidavit, Dodds' daughter told an interviewer at the Child Advocacy Center that she was visiting her father's Northeastside house Tuesday. When she spilled milk on the couch, Dodds told her to go to her room, but she refused because Dodds was saying negative things about her mother and the girl was defending her, she said.

Dodds then grabbed her legs, twisted them and pulled her off the couch, dragging her down the hallway to her bedroom, according to the affidavit. When she came out of the room to use the restroom, she told investigators, Dodds grabbed her by the neck, put her against the wall and started choking her, then he let go, the girl climbed out of her bedroom window and went to the neighbors' house.

Dodds was arrested Wednesday. On Jan. 24, police investigated a domestic disturbance involving Dodds and his wife, Heather. The incident involved an argument in which both Andrew and Heather Dodds alleged physical harm, according to the written report of the incident.

Duhamell said he did not know if the couple was in the midst of a divorce.

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http://www.indystar.com/article/20090213/NEWS02/902130408

Officer Tony Lawrence Charged with Beating Minor

SHERBURNE

A Sherburne resident who is a part-time police officer for the Hamilton Police Department and a full-time Colgate University safety officer was arrested Tuesday for allegedly beating a minor under the age of 17.

Anthony (Tony) E. Lawrence, 27, was charged with two misdemeanors – third degree assault and endangering the welfare of a minor – after State Troopers responded to a complaint involving the abuse of a young child.

Sgt. Elizabeth R. Wonka said police were not releasing the age of the victim to protect his identity, but said he was “much younger than 17.” She said the victim was a resident of the Sherburne area and that the alleged attack took place during a domestic dispute.

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http://www.evesun.com/news/stories/2009-02-12/6289/Madison-County-police-officer-arrested-in-Sherburne-assault/

Officer Troy Giovengo Charged with Stalking Ex-Girlfriend

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

A Fort Pierce police officer charged with stalking his ex-girlfriend last week is facing additional charges for allegedly barging into a birthday party for one of the woman’s sons.

Officer Troy Giovengo stormed into his ex-girlfriend’s home on Dec. 12, according to a St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office report. Witnesses said Giovengo, 42, was in his Fort Pierce Police Department uniform during the incident and told a man at the party he needed to leave the home and never return.

After Giovengo left the party, he used his police laptop computer to run the man’s license plate number, sheriff’s officials said. Upon learning the man’s address, Giovengo drove there and again threatened the man, telling him to stay away from the woman, according to the report. The incident report did not specify a relationship between the man and Giovengo’s ex-girlfriend.

Giovengo was charged Thursday with armed trespassing of a structure and for using a police data base for personal gain.

The ex-girlfriend told authorities this week she did not report the party incident because Giovengo threatened her. But Feb. 6, an argument between the officer and the woman prompted her 15-year-old son to call 911, Port St. Lucie police said.

Officers went to the woman’s home because the son said Giovengo was threatening his mother, police said. While in the woman’s driveway, Giovengo told her she “belonged to him” and threatened to burn down her house, police said.

Officers charged Giovengo with aggravated stalking. The 51-year-old-woman and the officer had dated for nine years before their relationship ended in October, the arrest affidavit said.

Giovengo was being held Thursday at the St. Lucie County Jail in lieu of $7,500 bail for the trespassing and using the database charges. Fort Pierce Police has Giovengo on leave without pay, spokeswoman Audria Moore said.

Previous Post: http://whathappenedtoprotectandserve.blogspot.com/2009/02/officer-troy-giovengo-charged-with.html

Officers Under Investigation for Beating Homeless Man

Dramatic video has been released of two Fresno, California police officers arresting a homeless man.

And, because of that video, the Fresno police chief has now launched an internal investigation.

The man who shot the video did not want to be identified.

The videographer said "I just try to record everything that doesn't make sense. This didn't make any sense."

Monday morning just More..before 10AM, this video was recorded.

The videographer said "why are they socking him like that?"

Tuesday, the person behind the camera handed the tape over to KSEE-24 News and with that, began an internal investigation of the two Fresno police officers seen here.

The videographer said "they grabbed him and threw him to the ground and saw him being brutally beaten cause he didn't want to listen to them."

In a matter of seconds, the man, 52-year-old Glen Beaty, is hit four times in the face.

Even when Beaty appears to be partially restrained, with one hand behind his back, the officer strikes him again. The video then shows what appears to be the last blow. This time, both of beaty's hands are behind his back.

The videographer said "I don't think anyone should be beat like that. They don't beat dogs and let you get away with it."

KSEE-24 News showed police Chief Jerry Dyer the footage.

Fresno Police Department Chief Jerry Dyer said "I think the initial reaction from the people that view this video will be one of disbelief, one that in some cases may shock individuals and one that causes concern, in the level of force being used."

Dyer says what is not on the tape could be most important, the eight or so minutes before the recording began.

Chief Dyer said "The individual was stiff, there was alcohol around him. And, it was very apparent that he had been drinking, uh, excessively. And, when the officers contacted the individual, there was resistance in terms of the line of questioning and his answers to certain questions. And, at some point, an altercation occurred between the suspect and the officers. At one point, one of the officers was punched by the suspect in the arm .. the officer had his badge ripped off of his shirt."

Dyer's account is based on the police report, the report, the two officers involved wrote themselves.

The videographer, who admits to not being on scene when officers first approached Beaty, has a different take.

The videographer said "before the camera went on, I saw him.. he had already pulled his body away from the tree a little bit, trying to keep them from grabbing his arms. And, when they did get hold of his arms, they spun him around, put him on the ground and started socking him."

Even though an ambulance was called and used to take Beaty to the hospital, officers on scene did not gather any witness statements.

Chief Dyer says that will be done now.

Chief Dyer said "what is important to us now is to allow all the evidence to be brought in to this case, any witness statements.. all the actions that led up to the video being taken before an official opinion is formed."

The videographer said "I don't think anybody deserves to be beaten like that even if they are being arrested."

The police department also produced a copy of a Fresno County Sheriff's report from 2004 that showed Beaty, at the time, was involved in a violent confrontation with a sheriff's deputy responding to a disturbance call at his parents' home.

In that incident, the deputy reported that he had to subdue Beaty using a police baton and that Beaty hit him with a flashlight.

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Video: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b20_1234380246

Officer Troy Giovengo Charged with Trespassing

FORT PIERCE, Fla.

A Fort Pierce police officer was arrested on Thursday and charged with armed trespassing and unauthorized use of a computer network.

St. Lucie County sheriff’s detectives arrested Officer Troy Giovengo at about 12:15 p.m.

He posted $7,500 bond and was released from the St. Lucie County Jail just before 3 p.m.

Last Friday, the Port St. Lucie Police Department arrested Giovengo on aggravated stalking charges. The next day, he was released after posting $10,000 bond.

Following those events, another woman, interviewed by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, described an encounter in her home with Giovengo on Dec. 12.

The sheriff’s office’s investigation led to the new charges that were the basis for Giovengo’s arrest on Thursday.

Correctional Officer Marco Moniz Arrested for Delivering Contraband

Dartmouth

A Bristol County correctional officer from Fall River was arrested Wednesday while on duty at the House of Correction for allegedly delivering contraband to the penal facility.

Marco Moniz, 20, of 928 Cherry St., Fall River,is also charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Major Nelson DeGouveia of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office and Lt. John Silva of that office’s Internal Affairs Division made the arrest.

DeGouveia of the Law Enforcement Division of the Sheriff’s Office is assigned to the South Coast Anti-Crime Task Force.

Bernard Sullivan, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, said he did not immediately know what kind of contraband was involved as the investigation is ongoing.

Moniz was held overnight for arraignment today in Third District Court, New Bedford.
The arrest was a result of a textbook collaborative effort by Fall River, Fairhaven and New Bedford police, assigned to the Drug Enforcement Agency and District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter’s Office.

Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson expressed pride in the performance of members of the task force, internal affairs units and Sutter’s office.

“While I am deeply saddened when a sworn officer violates the badge he wears and the trust it implies, I am exceptionally pleased that our officers joined in a collaborative that conducted an extensive investigation that will, I hope, result in an end to criminal activity that is a danger to my officers, the inmates and the entire staff of our office,” Hodgson stated.

“Policing our own is not pleasant, but it is necessary to maintain the pride we have in the conduct of the staff of our correctional officers, who perform with pride the most difficult job in law enforcement,” he said.

More Information:http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090212/NEWS/902120399

Officer Eric Hargrove Charged with Having Child Porn

A Chicago police officer has been charged with possessing child pornography after investigators found videos in his home computer allegedly of teenage boys engaging in sex.

Bail was set at $100,000 Wednesday for Eric Hargrove, 27, a patrol officer since joining the department in 2005. He has been relieved of his police powers and placed on administrative duty, a department spokesman said.

Two Officers Argue while Wounded, Handcuffed Suspect Bleeds on the Ground

A YouTube video purportedly showing a wounded, handcuffed suspect bleeding on the ground as two Philadelphia police officers argue nearby has sparked a federal investigation.

The 59-second clip captures an explicit verbal exchange between a female sergeant and a male highway patrol officer shortly after Marcus Henderson was allegedly shot by cops, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.

The Internal Affairs Division, which the paper said announced plans to investigate, has not identified the officers in the video. The clip has been removed from file-sharing Web site YouTube.

The female sergeant, a supervisor, reportedly shouts instructions at the patrol officer about what to do with the suspect.

"Don't tell me what to do! He's f——— shot! He's going to a hospital!" the sergeant screams, according to the News.

The officer yells back that Henderson aimed a gun at his partner.

"I'm not telling you what to do!" he retorts. "I'm telling you what happened!"

Witnesses told MyFOXPhilly.com that the officer resisted her orders because he didn’t want to put the wounded man in his patrol car.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told the News that a primary focus of the investigation isn't the officers' dispute — it's reports from witnesses that the male officer kicked the wounded suspect while he was on the ground bleeding and refused to use his patrol car to drive Henderson, 35, to the hospital.

"It doesn't look good," Ramsey told the paper. "We're concerned about it. It's probably just a misunderstanding, but we’re looking at it."

Henderson, who was eventually taken to the hospital with wounds to the arm and torso, is recovering behind bars until a Feb. 18 preliminary hearing.

He reportedly pointed a 9mm handgun at police twice, according to the News.

"The suspect was writhing around," the YouTube video photographer's brother told the paper. "It looked like he had been shot in his body, but he managed to get up on his knees."

Internal Affairs Chief Inspector Anthony DiLacqua said witnesses will be interviewed this week.

"We’ll get to the bottom of it," he told the News.

Click here for more on this story from MyFOXPhilly.com

Click here for more on this story from Philly.com.

Officer Randy Oliver Betts Arrested for Felony Theft

An Austin police officer has been arrested on an active felony warrant out of Pulaski County.

Thursday afternoon, the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office received information on an active arrest warrant for Felony theft by receiving. The initial investigation revealed that the warrant from Pulaski County was for 44-year-old Randy Oliver Betts of Searcy.

Further investigation revealed Betts was a police officer for the Austin Police Department and was currently on-duty. Authorities contacted the Austin Police Department and Betts was relieved of duty and turned himself in at the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office.

Betts was released to the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office.

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29167299/

Man Dies After Being Tasered by San Jose Police

A man in his 20s died Wednesday night after being shot with a Taser by a San Jose police officer who was attempting to take him into custody.

It is the sixth instance of someone dying after San Jose police deployed the electric stun gun on them.

The man resisted arrest, tried to grab the officer's gun from its holster and fought with two police officers for several minutes before one of the officers shot him with a Taser, according to police.

After he was shot with a Taser, the man went into medical distress, police spokesman Enrique Garcia said. Officers performed CPR, but the man died at the scene. His name was not immediately released.

The officers, whose names were also not released Thursday, were treated at a hospital for injuries incurred in the struggle; one suffered facial lacerations and the other had a leg injury, Garcia said.

They had been dispatched to Story Road and Adrian Way at 10:24 p.m. and approached the man, who ran away. A resident in the 2200 block of Amador Drive reported someone in the backyard.

Garcia said the officers located the man and tried to take him into custody. He "resisted and got into a violent struggle with our officers," Garcia said.

The officers used their batons during the struggle, which lasted several minutes. One of the officers shot the man with a Taser.

In 2004, the San Jose Police Department armed every officer with stun guns, devices capable of temporarily disabling
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suspects by sending 50,000-volt jolts through their body, as an alternative to deadly force. The move came after San Jose police shot and killed a Vietnamese woman after they mistook her vegetable peeler for a large knife.

In four San Jose incidents where suspects died after being shot with a stun gun, family members filed lawsuits over the deaths. In December, San Jose officials agreed to pay $70,000 to the wife and child of a man who died in 2005 after being shot with a Taser by police, marking the city's first settlement over a fatality linked to the stun guns.

In mid-December, a San Jose man with psychiatric problems died outside of Valley Medical Center when a Campbell police officer fired his Taser while he was helping Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputies control the situation.

The San Jose Police Department Homicide Unit is investigating Wednesday night's death, Garcia said. The Santa Clara County medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Investigators from San Jose Police Department's Internal Affairs Unit and the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office are also monitoring the case.

Deputy Gregory Todd Bowden Arrested for Enticing a Minor

ATLANTA

The FBI arrested a Bibb County sheriff's deputy Wednesday on a charge of using a computer to entice a minor for sexual activity.

Special Agent Gregory Jones said Gregory Todd Bowden, 42, of Byron, Ga., was arrested Wednesday after he engaged in a series of telephone and Internet conversations with what he believed was the mother of a girl under 10 years of age, and he went to Atlanta to engage in sexual activity with the mother and child.

The FBI says the mother and child were fictional, and that Bowden was arrested upon his arrival at an agreed-upon meeting place.

Trooper Charles Odom Accused of Sexually Assaulting Woman Trying to Get Bond Reduced

A trooper accused of sexually assaulting a woman during a traffic stop is trying to get his bond reduced.

Charles Odom is in the Leon County Jail facing a 250-thousand dollar bond.

A hearing was scheduled for this afternoon in Wakulla County, but Judge Sanders Sauls has recused himself from the case and that hearing has been moved to Leon County.

In a motion filed with the court earlier this week, Odom's attorney, Don Pumphrey, said given the Odom family's finances, the 250-thousand dollar bond is tantamount to no bond at all.

Pumphrey argued that Odom has no criminal history, is an 18 year veteran in law enforcement and his entire family and all his property are in Wakulla County so he is not a flight risk.

Judge James Hankinson is scheduled to hear that bond reduction motion at one o'clock this afternoon.

Officer Duhamel Torres Indicted for Rape, Kidnapping, Assault

CLEVELAND

A Cleveland police officer was indicted Wednesday on charges connected to the rape of a woman while on duty last December.

Duhamel Torres was indicted on several charges, including rape, kidnapping, intimidation of a crime victim, tampering with records and assault.

Prosecutors said Torres stopped a 41-year-old woman near West 43rd Street and Lorain Avenue. He asked her if she had a warrant out for her arrest and ordered her into his patrol car, saying he would give her a ride home, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Torres drove the woman to an area on Scranton Avenue, threatened her with arrest, slapped her in the face and raped her.

When he dropped her off near her home, he threatened her again, prosecutors said.

Authorities said DNA from the rape kit matched Torres'.

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http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1234431036196931.xml&coll=2

Hearing for Former Officer Jason Huntsinger accused of Child Porn Postponed

Missoula, Mont.

A plea hearing has been postponed for a former Missoula police officer accused of receiving child pornography through a computer owned by the police union.

Jason Huntsinger had agreed to plead guilty Thursday to a federal charge of receipt of obscene material, but his hearing was rescheduled for March 5 at his attorney's request.

Prosecutors say Huntsinger used a credit card and a PayPal account to access a child pornography Web site and used a post office box number assigned to a federal drug task force as the address attached to the credit card. He is accused of using a laptop belonging to the Missoula Police Protective Association to view the site.

Federal agents seized the laptop and Huntsinger's work computer in September 2007. Huntsinger remained on city's payroll for almost a year before he was put on paid leave. He resigned in September.

Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com

Drunk Driving Deputy Allowed to Go Home Without Being Charged

The Nebraska State Patrol is conducting an internal investigation after one of its troopers is accused of showing preferential treatment to another law enforcement officer.

An off-duty Sarpy County sheriff's deputy was pulled over December 20th suspected of drunk driving. But the man in charge of the State Patrol, Col. Bryan Tuma, confirms the deputy was never given a sobriety test, never arrested and was allowed to get a ride home with a friend.

The allegations come amidst a DWI crackdown by the State Patrol, with a 37-percent increase in arrests last year by Omaha's Troop A alone. It was one of those troopers, Col. Tuma says, who let a suspected drunk driver go. “I believe he acknowledges that he made a mistake."

"The fact that (the party pulled over) was a law enforcement official may have had some bearing, may have had some influence on his decision of how he followed through."

"It's a double standard," says UNO Criminal Justice Professor Sam Walker, "because someones getting a break because he's a law enforcement officer."

The Nebraska State Patrol calls it an isolated incident.

Colonel Tuma says, "We know that there was alcohol involved and that officer allowed the person to be transported from the scene. Clearly out of context of what we normally do."

The stop happened after midnight on southbound Interstate 680 at Highway 75. One trooper noticed a car driving without headlights and pulled the driver over.

The trooper already had a suspect in custody from an earlier stop. “He radioed for assistance, another one of our troopers that was in the area came over and took over the traffic stop," says Col. Tuma.

That second, unnamed trooper approached the suspect’s vehicle. “There was an odor of alcohol in the vehicle. What's concerning is the trooper didn't follow through exactly the way we would prefer they follow through on one of those types of contacts."

"Instead of making an arrest or writing a citation or whatever was appropriate for that particular case, didn't occur and that's out of sync with our protocols."

For all we know -- the deputy who was off-duty and driving without headlights on may have been perfectly sober -- but without a test -- no one really knows.

The incident is disappointing says Mothers Against Drunk Driving Executive Director Simera Reynolds. "What we want to see is equitable treatment of all offenders. I think that this is a particular event that was unfortunate, but I don't think it's common practice."

Col. Tuma says his office was told about the situation immediately and the matter was turned over to Internal Affairs. However, the details of that investigation are not being disclosed.

"The officer will be disciplined here, appropriately, in the not-too-distant future," says Col. Tuma. He calls what happened “an error in judgment,” one which the trooper has admitted to and which is being taken "very seriously."

Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis says a supervisor in his department was contacted when the off-duty deputy was stopped. He says his office understood the State Patrol would follow whatever steps were called for.

Since the sheriff’s department discovered protocol was broken, they conducted their own internal investigation. “Appropriate steps were taken with the deputy,” says Davis. He says just what steps were taken are an internal matter and cannot be released to the public. The same for State Trooper.

"I don't know if this should be a firing offense," says Professor Walker, "but definitely some discipline. There needs to be additional training and a reminder to officers that this isn't acceptable. It's favoritism and 'look the other way' and 'excuse your crime' when we wouldn't do that for somebody else."

Last year, the State Patrol’s drunk driving arrests increased by more than 18 percent over the previous year. The number of road fatalities also decreased, from 91 in 2007 to 60 in 2008.

Two Off-Duty Officers Arrested for Speeding & Reckless Driving

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla.

The man grinning in his mug shot is a Volusia County deputy and he's accused of taking local cops on a high-speed chase with his motorcycle. It all started when Edgewater police tried to pull over deputies Omar Lopez and Austin Littleton.

Police said the deputies were speeding and driving recklessly on their motorcycles, but the officers said they had no idea they were pursuing deputies.

There was an officer posted in a parking lot when he saw two men on motorcycles speeding past him; one was doing a wheelie. As soon as police followed them, they sped up and disappeared into a neighborhood.

Lopez was smiling when he was booked into jail Tuesday, even though the five-year sheriff's veteran is facing a felony charge, accused of running from Edgewater police.

"I think that they really needed to stop and think what they were doing, and especially the one that took off from the scene and kept on going," said Paulette Tubbs, Edgewater Police Department.

Lopez was spotted on US-1 Tuesday with Deputy Austin Littleton. Both were on personal motorcycles when an officer saw them going 60mph in a 35mph zone. They did eventually pull over, but Lopez wasn't about to stay there.

"The other officer stopped and then took off again from that position," Tubbs said.

More officers joined the pursuit and Lopez was spotted again near Oak Hill, where he appeared to be hiding behind a gas station. Again, he sped away.

It wasn't until police checked the ID of the other motorcyclist that they realized they were dealing with off-duty deputies. Police reports said a sheriff lieutenant was called to the scene. He compelled Littleton to give up Lopez and police arrested the 34-year-old in his New Smyrna Beach home.

Police insist, the pair were done no favors.

"No, no, no, 'cause they did not know that they were deputies," Tubbs said.

While Deputy Littleton was stopped and getting three tickets for his part in it, his cell phone rang and it was Deputy Lopez. The sheriff lieutenant who was on scene grabbed the phone and answered it, only to have Lopez hang up on him.

Both men were suspended with pay Wednesday morning while the sheriff's office investigates.

Video: http://www.wftv.com/news/18691350/detail.html#-

Kansas City Vetern Officer Accused of DWI

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

A 20-year veteran with the Kansas City police department is accused of driving while intoxicated.

The off-duty sergeant was arrested early Saturday on northbound Interstate 29 at 64th Street, according to court documents.

The sergeant has not been charged, so KCTV5 News is not releasing his name.

An official with the department said an internal investigation would not begin until the case gets through the court system. He also said what an officer does off-duty may not affect his on-duty status.

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Video: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/off-duty-officer-arrested-on-highway/3343466504/?icid=VIDLRVNWS04

Officer David Gilliam Arrested for Sexually Attack Woman

ALBANY, GA

A Dougherty County Police Officer assigned to the Albany Dougherty Drug Unit is arrested for a sexual attack on a woman while working an off-duty security job.

Albany Police charged 41-year old David Gilliam with sexual battery, false imprisonment, and violation of oath of office.

Investigators say a 26 year old woman reported Gilliam tried to rape her in one of the rooms at the Superior Creek Lodge on North Slappey Boulevard February 4th. Gilliam worked at that motel as a Security Guard.

Dougherty County Police Chief Don Cheek said "He has been on suspension with pay status since the morning after this incident last week. We place him in a suspension status at that time and he had been relieved of all duties."

Warrants for Gilliam's arrest were signed Wednesday morning.

He turned himself in at the Sheriff's Office and was released on bond.

Dougherty County Police fired him Wednesday.

He worked for D-C-P since October 2005 and was assigned to the drug squad the last two years.

Two Officers Investigated for Beating Man

FRESNO, Calif.

Police are investigating the arrest of a homeless man after a video showed one officer striking the man as another officer restrained him.

The two officers have been put on desk duty. Police Chief Jerry Dyer said the officers' report said 52-year-old Glen Beaty was combative and intoxicated and he struck one officer in the arm.

The video made Monday by a bystander was shown on KSEE 24 in Fresno. It shows Beaty lying on his side on the ground being punched in the face at least five times.

Dyer says the recording is troubling but it's too early to determine whether the officers' actions were appropriate for the situation.

In another videotape case, a New York City police officer pleaded not guilty Wednesday to using excessive force on a man he was arresting last July.

The video obtained by his supervisors showed 43-year-old David London beating Army veteran Walter Harvin with a baton after he entered a city building without identification. The charge against Harvin was dropped.

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http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_11688754

Former Officer Rolando Balanos Jr Charged with Bank Robbery

The son of Hialeah's former police chief was arrested Wednesday morning, two days after he is accused of robbing a bank, according to detectives.

Rolando A. Bolaños Jr., a former police officer himself, was charged with the strong arm bank robbery of a Bank Atlantic in Hialeah -- a city where he's well known by police, politicians and attorneys.

Police said the former cop walked into the bank with a black baseball cap hanging low over his face, and then he handed the bank teller a note demanding money. He walked out with a stack of cash and rolled away in his black Mercedes Benz.

The married 36-year-old is the son of former Hialeah Police Chief Rolando Bolaños Sr., a man who was famous for single-handedly stopping bank robbers in 1996.

His voluntary arrest comes five years after his last run-in with the law, when the Hialeah police discovered Bolaños failed to disclose a grand theft auto charge when he applied for the department. The officer narrowly escaped misdemeanor charges by surrendering his police certification on Jan. 5, 2004.

A year earlier, the police chief's other son, Daniel Bolaños, resigned from the police department as well. He and his brother were arrested for a 1998 police brutality incident, and Daniel Bolaños later resigned under pressure from Miami-Dade prosecutors, who agreed to drop the two felony official misconduct counts.

After another joint police beating in April 2003, a jury found both brothers violated a man's civil rights when they beat him during an arrest.

Daniel Bolaños' defense attorney at the time, Michael Band, said his client's decision to leave law enforcement took a toll on other family members.

Family members did not say what toll Rolando Bolaños' recent arrest warrant would take on the family.

Daniel Bolaños, who was contacted Wednesday morning, sighed heavily into his phone's receiver as he said he already knew the purpose of the call.

''Right now, I have no comment,'' he said slowly, without changing a single tone in his voice.

He asked to be called later in the day.

According to Hialeah police spokesman Detective Carl Zogby, Bolaños used his own car to drive to and from the bank at 7775 W. 33rd Ave., and police tracked him down by identifying his license plate.

Wednesday morning, detectives got in contact with Bolaños Jr. or someone close to him and arranged an arrest by 10:50 a.m.

However, Hialeah Councilman José Caragol said anyone who would have seen Bolaños would have recognized him.

''He's easy to find. Everyone knows who and where his wife and kids are,'' he said.

Caragol, who served as the city's spokesman for more than two decades while Bolaños' father was police chief, said the chief took great care in raising his kids -- and that the bank robbery charge was a shame.

The former police chief once had an impeccable record with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and during the violent and chaotic 1980s, he ran Hialeah's police department with an iron fist.

Years later, Bolaños Sr. admitted to lying under oath when he told prosecutors he did not know about his son's 1989 arrest for auto theft, which later caused his son trouble when he was accused of lying on his application to the police department.

At the time, the chief told a prosecutor, ``If it came down to saving my son or telling the truth, I would have been happy to lie.''

Bolaños Sr. was Hialeah's first Hispanic police chief, and he briefly gained fame for arresting three bank robbers who happened to rob a Hialeah bank just as he drove by it.

Officer David London Accused of Beating Suspect

Last July, Police Officer David London arrested a man in the Upper West Side building where he lived with his mother, accusing him of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

But the building’s surveillance video told a different story, District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau said Wednesday.

It showed Officer London pulling the man out of an elevator, Mr. Morgenthau said, and beating him 18 to 20 times with a baton. The beating continued even after the man, Walter Harvin, fell to the ground, Mr. Morgenthau said. And even after Mr. Harvin was in handcuffs, Officer London delivered another eight to 10 blows, some with his feet, Mr. Morgenthau said.

Officer London, 43, has been indicted on charges of assault and filing false records and pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in State Supreme Court in Manhattan. He was released without bail. If convicted he faces up to seven years in prison.

Stephen C. Worth, his lawyer, said Officer London “maintains his innocence strenuously.”

Mr. Worth said his client was a 16-year veteran of the force assigned to a housing unit and is married with three children. He also has an exemplary record as a police officer, Mr. Worth added.

Daniel J. Castleman, the chief assistant district attorney, said, “We will dispute that,” but he declined to give details.

Mr. Worth said it was important to put the video of the beating in the context of what happened before and after it was captured.

“Oftentimes the videotape is the beginning of the story, not the end,” Mr. Worth said.

Several officers have been indicted in recent months after videos contradicted their accounts of how they made arrests. In December an officer was indicted on assault and other charges after a video showed him shoving a bicyclist in Times Square. Last month two undercover narcotics officers were charged with lying about a drug sting after a nightclub video showed they had had no contact with four men they arrested. Prosecutors dropped charges against the bicyclist and the four men after the videos came to light.

In Officer London’s case, prosecutors said they could not release the video, which came from surveillance cameras, to the public because it was part of the evidence. But they said it captured the episode in detail.

The confrontation took place on July 28, 2008, when Mr. Harvin, 29, an Iraq war veteran, was trying to get into his apartment building, a public housing project, at 93rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue, Mr. Morgenthau said. Officer London stopped him and asked for his identification. Mr. Harvin did not have any, nor did he have his key to the building, Mr. Morgenthau said, and he got into a shoving match with Officer London.

Mr. Harvin made it to the elevator, where the assault began, Mr. Morgenthau said. Mr. Harvin was arrested on charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, but prosecutors dropped the charges last September after the surveillance video contradicted Officer London’s account.

Mr. Harvin suffered bruises and welts on his arms, back and head, Mr. Morgenthau said. Afterward, Mr. Harvin became homeless and drifted about the country, and prosecutors could not find him, Mr. Morgenthau said. But a lawyer representing Mr. Harvin informed the district attorney’s office Wednesday that he was back in New York.

“He’s a fragile person," said the lawyer, Adam Orlow, who added that Mr. Harvin suffered post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in Iraq. “He became only worse after this incident.”

He said he would file a civil rights lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan within the next two weeks.

Officer London was placed on modified duty shortly after the episode and was suspended without pay because of the indictment.

Officer Melissa Daniels Reprimanded Before Taser Death

The Soddy-Daisy police officer who used a Taser to stun a man who later died was reprimanded by the former police chief for her “inability to perform (her) duties as an officer” before that incident.

The undated letter, contained in Officer Melissa Daniels’ personnel file, states that her attention to detail and job performance had deteriorated to the point that she was inefficient in her job. The letter is signed by Officer Daniels and then-police chief David Loftis.

Officer Daniels’ personnel file contains no further explanation of what prompted Chief Loftis to write the letter.

The officer could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Chief Phillip Hamrick said she took a day off and would not be available.

On Jan. 4, Officer Daniels responded to a disturbance call at 9921 Dayton Pike. The police report stated that 52-year-old Roger Redden would not cooperate with officers and continued to struggle, so he was shot with a stun gun. He went into a coma and died 18 days later.

According to the police department’s policy on Tasers, “trained officers must go through annual retraining courses taught by a certified instructor in order to carry and deploy the Taser Device.” The policy was created June 9, 2008, and expires June 9 this year.

Officer Daniels received Taser training Aug. 13, 2004, through the Cleveland State Police Academy. She was trained again on Jan. 24 and passed the requirement of the Soddy-Daisy Police Department, according to a certificate in her personnel file. Her file does not contain any other Taser training certifications.

Officer Daniels was sworn into the Soddy-Daisy police department March 2, 2007. The reprimand’s letterhead shows that Bob Privett was mayor at the time. Current Mayor Gene Shipley took over in November 2007.

Mr. Privett, now the vice mayor, said he did not know about the reprimand letter in Officer Daniels’ file. He said commission members should have been informed once the reprimand was written.

“I think that all the commission should be made aware once we’ve had and have had complaints on the officer,” he said. “But we shouldn’t be in the decision-making process of the chief’s decision to reprimand.”

Mr. Loftis could not be reached for comment. His resignation as chief took effect Jan. 15.

Officer Daniels previously worked in Red Bank as an officer but quit because she disagreed “with officers being treated bad by ranked officers,” she wrote on her Soddy-Daisy application.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the stun incident.

Chief Hamrick has said Officer Daniels will not be available for comment because of the pending investigation.

Detective Heidi Fischer Accused of Street Racing While on Duty

Ontario Provincial Police officer had her licence pulled and her cruiser impounded after being accused of violating the province's street-racing law while on duty.

Ontario law allows police to speed in the execution of their duties, Inspector Dave Ross said. An officer was pulled over on Jan. 31 along Highway 403, clocked at 165 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, the OPP said yesterday. An investigation determined there was no call or assignment requiring the officer to drive that fast, Insp. Ross said.

Detective Constable Heidi Fischer was charged under the Highway Traffic Act on Friday with driving more than 50 km/h above the posted limit. Her unmarked police cruiser has been impounded for the week.

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More Information: http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/585595

Strip Searching Inmates for Minor Offenses Ruled Unconstitutional

The policy of strip-searching inmates held for minor offenses at the Burlington and Essex County jails is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled this month.

More than 10,000 people arrested for minor crimes have been strip-searched at the facilities since 2003, a practice that could end up costing the counties millions of dollars, said Susan Chana Lask, a New York lawyer suing the jails.

"They just think the law stops at their doors, and they can do whatever they want," Lask said. "I'm fighting it and winning it to make sure constitutional rights are not stripped away in prison."

Similar lawsuits are pending against other county jails in New Jersey. The Camden County jail agreed in 2007 to pay $7.5 million to as many as 20,000 people strip-searched while held on minor charges.

Lask's case grew out of a lawsuit she filed on behalf of Albert Florence, a New Jersey man arrested while driving on I-295 in Burlington County in 2005.

A police check revealed that he had an outstanding warrant in Essex County for failing to pay a court fine, even though Florence produced documentation to show the fine had been paid.

He was held in the Burlington County jail for six days before being transferred to the Essex County jail. Florence said he was strip-searched at both facilities.

Lask successfully argued to make the case a class action, encompassing anyone strip-searched at either jail since 2003 while held on minor, "non-indictable" charges.

Burlington County jail officials argued that their procedures for inmates held on such offenses amounted to a "visual observation" of their bodies, not the more intrusive strip-search required for serious offenders.

They said the inspection of the nude inmates was necessary to ensure they were not smuggling contraband, to identify gang members through tattoos, and to detect health issues, such as evidence of the MRSA virus.

But District Judge Joseph Rodriguez said subjecting those arrested for minor violations to a strip search was unconstitutional unless there was "reasonable suspicion" they were carrying contraband.

"Thus, a hypothetical priest or minister arrested for allegedly skimming the Sunday collection would be subjected to the same degrading procedure as a gang member arrested on an allegation of drug charges," Rodriguez wrote in his Feb. 4 opinion.

He called that an "unreasonable result" of the jail's policy.

Rodriguez said federal circuit courts had "split" in recent years over whether strip-searches without reasonable suspicions are unconstitutional.

J. Brooks DiDonato, an attorney for Burlington County, said he could not comment at length on the case.

"The county fully intends on appealing and defending the case vigorously," he said.

A spokesman for the county could not be reached yesterday evening.

Lask said typical settlements for plaintiffs in these cases range from $1,500 to $3,000 each. She said she hoped to have a jury trial soon to determine damages.

Sgt Pete Bunch Charged with Resisting Arrest

SPOKANE

Officials with the Spokane Police Department confirm they arrested a sergeant with the Spokane County Sheriff's Office after an incident Friday morning.

Sergeant Pete Bunch has been identified as the person involved in the incident.

It started when a police officer was called to a home in the 3200 block of East Marie Court on Friday by a woman who dialed 911 to report that a suspicious person was in her backyard.

Court documents say the first officer on scene stopped Sgt. Bunch in the street, but Bunch would not look at him and he appeared to be in a daze.

Police say Bunch was uncooperative and wouldn't answer questions, saying only that he was looking for his lost dog.

The report says the officer grabbed Bunch's wrist to arrest him but Bunch tried to wiggle free.

"There was a point the officer felt he couldn't control the situation and needed to bring his tazer out to effect the arrest. It was at that point that other officers arrived and they were able to take him into custody," Officer Jen DeRuwe of the Spokane Police Department said.

Sgt. Bunch was taken to the Spokane County Jail and booked on a count of Resisting Arrest and Obstructing an Officer. It was only after he was taken into custody that he was formally identified as a sergeant with the sheriff's office.

"They didn't know until they checked his pocket after he was arrested," Officer DeRuwe said.

Police said that Bunch probably would not have been arrested had he just cooperated with his fellow law enforcement officers.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich says Bunch has been on the force 32 years.

"These charges of all things, I would expect better from a seasoned veteran," Sheriff Knezovich said.

Sheriff Knezovich says that Bunch has been placed on paid administrative leave and that there will be an internal investigation into his conduct once the criminal case is complete.

"The county doesn't have a system where we put people on unpaid status. It's all paid leave. I don't like that system, so I'm going to find a way to plug the sergeant into a position where he can work and the taxpayers can get some benefit for that pay," Sheriff Knezovich said.

The Sheriff also wanted to assure people that no one gets preferential treatment when it comes to the law.

"This agency will hold people accountable. You've seen me hold people accountable and nothing has changed," Sheriff Knezovich said.

Bunch has been in trouble before and was once demoted from lieutenant to sergeant. The sheriff would not comment on past disciplinary actions taken against Bunch.

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http://www.ktvb.com/news/regional/stories/ktvbn-feb1009-sheriff_arrest.27d3288.html

Ralph Alexander Files Lawsuit Against Officers

A scar on Ralph Alexander's leg is a constant reminder to the 80 year old Liberty Township man of what he says happened to him on November 18, 2006 when two Liberty police officers responded to a burglary call at his home.

According to a federal lawsuit filed by Alexander in 2007, he says the officers violated his constitutional rights by making a false arrest, using excessive force and malicious prosecution. Alexander says he was tasered by police officers, Chad McGarry and George Bednar, when he ran out of his house with a loaded shotgun and refused to put it down. His attorney says Alexander had a live shell in the chamber for the robber, and he was trying to get it out before he put the gun down.

"The upshot was hands were laid on him. He was tasered, and his leg was open up, and he had a kinda nasty injury," said his attorney, Michael Rossi.

Liberty's police chief says he believes his officers handled the matter properly. "There is no question they acted very prudently, more prudently than they really had to. We will have experts testify so we can resolve it once we get there," said Liberty Police Chief Rick Tisone.

Alexander was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with two charges of assault on a police officer. Those felony charges were filed against Ralph Alexander in Girard Municipal Court, but were later reduced to misdemeanors and then dismissed due to speedy trial issues.

The civil case filed by Alexander is expected to go to trial March 3.

Daniel Hackett III Suing Pittsburgh for Officers Using Excessive Force

A Mt. Lebanon man is suing the city of Pittsburgh and one of its police officers, claiming that he was shot with a Taser several times for no reason.

Daniel A. Hackett III, 42, claims that the incident began on March 15 after he received a citation for failing to use a left-turn signal while on the South Side.

After he parked his car, the lawsuit says that Mr. Hackett, an accountant, saw a person urinating on a building and was nearly hit by a vehicle that ran a red light.

"In the immediate vicinity of these events, was a City of Pittsburgh patrol car in which defendant [Edward] Cunningham was a passenger," the lawsuit said. "As Mr. Hackett passed the vehicle he stated words to the effect that 'look ... there's a red light runner and there's a guy [urinating] on a building and I get a ticket for not using my turn signal?' "

Mr. Hackett claims he then walked into a convenience store but that Officer Cunningham grabbed him from behind and demanded his identification. When he complied, the lawsuit said, he was forcibly moved to the front of the store, and Officer Cunningham had his Taser drawn, pointed at Mr. Hackett.

"When he questioned Officer Cunningham why he was writing a citation and requested that his badge number be placed on the citation, [Hackett] was suddenly, without warning, and without any reasonable basis for doing so, Tasered several times causing him to collapse to the sidewalk," the lawsuit said.

Mr. Hackett claims he was shot by the Taser several more times while down on the sidewalk.

During the arrest, the lawsuit alleges, Mr. Hackett heard Officer Cunningham say, "this guy is from Upper St. Clair and he thinks that he is better than us."

Following the incident, Mr. Hackett was transported to UPMC South Side, where he was treated for his injuries. He then was taken to the Allegheny County Jail until about 3 p.m. the next day.

He was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct but was acquitted on Dec. 4.

Mr. Hackett is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.

City attorneys could not be reached yesterday evening.

Lawsuit Claims Utah Officers Used Excessive Force

Jury selection begins tomorrow in federal court for a trial stemming from a lawsuit that claims excessive force involving a Taser.

It stems from a traffic stop June 10, 2005, when Utah Highway Patrol says Anthony Rogers was spotted driving with a broken tail light. Troopers say he subsequently ran a red light and was interrogated for possibly driving under the influence.

He failed his sobriety tests and was about to be arrested, but that's when Rogers' attorney Michael Studebaker says the story took a disturbing turn.

He says, "Through the video we learned that actually at different times the Utah Highway Patrol/Riverdale Police officer used a Taser multiple times on Anthony, including while he was in handcuffs and in the back of a trooper's car. They actually took him out of the vehicle to Taser him some more."

In total, Rogers claims he was tased four times. More specifically, dash-cam video shows Rogers being tased twice as he's restrained by three officers. Then later, he is pulled from a police cruiser after he yelled and hit his head against the window of the car. Rogers' testimony indicates he was tasered two more times.

UHP says it was the Riverdale officer who tased him, but a spokesman for the Utah Highway Patrol denies excessive force was used.

"He was belligerent. He would not respond to our officers' commands," says Sgt. Jeff Nigbur. "And that is when he was out of cuffs and also after the fact when he was cuffed."

Nigbur says Rogers then tried to escape several times. Studebaker believes he has indisputable video evidence. He says, "Definitely, the video's there. I don't know how they can say he's out of control or not in restraints. There's three different officers on him, and when they go to execute the Taser on him just the first time, they actually have to jump off of him."

Riverdale police are declining comment pending the outcome of the court case.

Rogers is suing for damages.

Lt. Adrian Mascorro Arrested for DWI

A Brownsville police lieutenant was arrested last week and charged with driving while intoxicated, the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed on Tuesday.

Lt. Adrian Mascorro on Friday night was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche on Expressway 77/83, just south of San Benito, when a trooper spotted him speeding, said DPS spokesman Johnny Hernandez.

The trooper noticed the possible presence of alcohol on Mascorro's breath and put him through a field sobriety test, Hernandez said.

"After the field sobriety test he was arrested for DWI," the spokesman said. "It's a state jail felony instead of a misdemeanor because he had a person in the vehicle under 15 years of age."

According to the DPS, a state jail felony carries a sentence of 180 days to a maximum of two years and an optional fine up to $10,000

Mascorro was travelling with his family at the time of the arrest.

He was transported to Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center where he was booked at 1 a.m. Saturday and released approximately 3 a.m. on a $2,000 personal recognizance bond, said Cameron County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Gus Reyna.

Mascorro has been placed on administrative leave with pay until the matter is resolved, said Carlos Garcia, chief of the Brownsville Police Department. The police department will conduct an administrative investigation into the arrest pursuant to departmental policy, he added.

"Lt. Mascorro has expressed deep regret for this incident especially for his family and the department," Garcia said.

Sgt Darryl Storey Arrested for Collision that Killed 18-year-old Woman

THUNDER BAY, Ont.

An Ontario Provincial Police officer has been criminally charged in the death of an 18-year-old woman following a collision in northwestern Ontario last December.

Sgt. Darryl Storey was arrested Monday and faces one count of criminal negligence causing death and dangerous driving causing death in the Dec. 3, 2008 collision.

He has been released and set to appear in a Thunder Bay courtroom on March 5, said a Tuesday news release.

The crash occurred between a OPP cruiser driven by Storey and a car driven by Jasmine Veneruzzo on Highway 11 and Twin City Crossroads in Thunder Bay.

Veneruzzo, an 18-year-old Murillo, Ont., woman, died from the crash.

Storey was believed to be have been on a routine patrol at the time of the collision.

The charges come as a result of an investigation launched by the Special Investigations Unit, a provincial body that looks into cases involving police and civilians resulting in sex assault, serious injuries or death.

Meanwhile, earlier Tuesday, the OPPalso announced that another officer has been charged with street racing for driving 65 kilometres over the speed limit.

Police say Det. Const. Heidi Fischer was not within the lawful execution of her duties on Jan. 31 when Brant County OPP stopped her unmarked police vehicle on Highway 403 for driving 165 kilometres per hour in a 100 km/h zone.

Fischer, an OPP officer for four years, had her driver's licence suspended for seven days. Her vehicle was also impounded for seven days.

She will appear in court in Brantford on March 24.